Copying device



Oct. 9 1923. 1,470,134

F. D. ATHERTON, JR

COPYING DEVICE Filed April 13 1922 Patented Oct. 9, 1923.

, UNITED STATES 1,410,134 PATENT OFFICE.

mxon DEAN a'rnnnron, an, or SA FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Corrine DEVICE.

Application filed April 13, 1922; Serial No. 552,282.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FAXON DEAN ATHER- 'roN, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Copy-' ing Device, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to improvements in copying devices for the photographic copy ing of printed characters and the like,wherein a light dispersing element and a plurality of sensitized webs are mounted within a holder and arranged to be withdrawn for placing upon a surface bearing subject mat-- ter to be copied.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved copying device affording compactness of structure and ease of application.

Another object is to provide an improved device of the character described adapted to facilitate the placingand withdrawal of sensitized webs for copying purposes.

A further object is to provide a device arranged to normally protect sensitized webs supplied therein from exposure to light.

A still further object is to provide an improved device having means for normally preventing the com lete withdrawal of the light dispersing e ements and the webs thereby insuring against the over-exposing of the web. 1

'I accomplish these and other objectsby means of the device disclosed in the-draw ings forming a part of the present specification wherein like charcters of reference are used to designate similar parts through out said specification and drawings and inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a planview of my improved copying device, portions being broken away to disclose the arrangement thereof.

Fig. 2 is a similar'view with the'light dispersing element and a sensitized web withdrawn to the operative position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section of the device. I

Fig. 4 is a similar section of another form of holder in which sensitized webs are mounted upon both sides of the light dispersing element.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of a sensitized web retainer.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail showing one means for preventing the complete withdrawal of the webs and light dispersing member from the holder.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate in general a holder made of any suitable opaque material. A light dispersing element 2 is slidably mounted within the holder 1, said element being preferably a flat plate of ground glass, mounted within a frame 3. vVithin the holder 1 adjacent the element 2 are slidably mounted a plurality of webs -1- of sensitizedprint paper preferably of the character' commonly termed"gas light paper, said webs being carried by retainers 6 engaging the edges thereof. Tabs 7 are secured upon one end of the retainers 6 to extend outwardly at one end of the holder, the other end of said retainers being open as at 5 to permit the webs 4 to be inserted and removed therefrom.

Theholder 1 is provided with a partition 8 separating the element 2 from the sensitized webs 4. A flap 9 is secured upon the holder 1 to fold over the open end to exclude the lightfrom the holder When not in use.

The inner ends of the retainers 6 and the frame 3 are provided with shoulders 11 adapted to engage catches 12 mounted upon the edges of the holder 1 adjacent the open end thereof to normally prevent the complete withdrawal of the webs 4 and element 2' from the holders, said catches being arranged to be turnedaway from the open end as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2- when it is desired to remove the retainers G and frame 3 from the holder.

The operation of my improved copying device is as follows: Webs of sensitized paper are cut to the proper size and inserted into the retainers 6 through the open ends thereof. The retainers are then inserted into the holder 1 withthe tabs 7 at the open end thereof and with the sensitized side of the webs 1 turned away from the element 2. The catches 12 are then turned to the operative position shown in Fig. 2

of a kindred nature, the flap 9 is moved to permit withdrawal of the light dispersing element 2 from the holder. The device to be copied is laid upon a flat surface and the holder placed adjacent thereto, the light dispersing element 2 and one of the sensitized webs being then withdrawn to cover the portion of the subject matter which it is desired to copy. The sensitized side of the web is applied next to the subject matter to be copied and is held firmly thereagainstby means of pressure applied upon the element 2 or the frame 3, the web being preferably withdrawn simultaneously with the light dispersing element 2 by means of the tab 7 to prevent the entrance of light between said element and the web. Light is now directed upon the upper ex )osed surface of the element 2, said light eing transmitted through said element and the web st upon the subject matter to be copied. The element 2 as above stated is preferably made of ground glass in order that the light passing therethrough may be diffused to obtain an even exposure of the web, but any material adapted to transmit light and hold the web in close contact with the subject matter to be copied may be substituted. The light rays striking white or light colored portions 01": the subject are reflected back upon the sensitized web while rays striking dark portions of the subject are absorbed or reflected to a lesser degree. In this manner the portions of the web adjacent the light portions of the subject are more quickly acted upon than those. portions above the dark portions of the subject. When the web has been exposed in this manner for a suitable period of time the web and element 2 are moved back into the holder. The web may be subsequently re moved at any. time convenient to the operator and developed after the fashion of the ordinary photographic print in the wellknown manner.

The print thus obtained is a negative of the subject matter copied, that is, the device is re ersed and the light portions of the subject appear dark and the dark portions appear light upon the copy. If it is desired to obtain a positive copy, the negative obtained in the above manner is copied in the manner above described, the colors and arrangement being thus again reversed to give a positive copy of the original subject.

Each of the webs 4: may be exposed in the manner above described to obtain copies of various subjects as desired, the several webs being removed and developed together at any convenient time.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the device as provided with webs positioned upon only one side of the element 2; however, similar webs may be applied upon each side of the light dispersing element as shown in Fig. 4.,- the number of such webs being limited only by the ability of the operator-to obtain a close contact between the web and the subject matter to be copied. In Fig. 4 I have also shown the holder 1 as provided with a removable cap 14 closing the open end thereof in place of the flap as shown and described in Fig. 3.

The above construction affords a neat and compact device which may be readily carried in the pocket and without inconvenience to the operator. However. I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction disclosed as clearly the form and arrangement of the several elements may be modified in numerous ways without departinglfrom the spirit of my invention.

aving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A copying device comprising a holder; a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; and a web of sensitized paper slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing clement, said web and light dispersing elements being arran ed to be withdrawn from the holder for p acement upon subject matter to be copied.

2. A copying device comprising a holder: a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; and a web of sensitized paper slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element, said web and light dispersing elements being arranged to be simultaneously withdrawn from the holder for placement upon subject matter to be copied.

3. A copying device comprising aholder: a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; a web of sensitized paper slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element said web and light dispersing elements being arranged to be simultaneously withdrawn from the holder for placement upon subject matter to be copied; and means for limiting the outward movement of the light dispersing element and the web to normally prevent complete removal thereof from the holder when withdrawn for copying purposes.

4:. A copying device comprising a holder; a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; :1 web f sensitized paper slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element, said web and light dispersing elements being arranged to be withdrawn from the holder for placement upon subject matter to be copied; and means for normally retaining said light dispersing element and web within the holder and for excluding light therefrom.

5. A copying device comprisin a holder; a light dispersing element slidaby mounted within said holder and arranged to be withdrawn therefrom to an operative position; a plurality of sensitized webs slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing member, said webs being independently movable simultaneously with the light dispersing element to the operative position thereof.

6. A copying device comprising a holder; a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; and a plurality of sensitized web retainers slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element, said retainers being independently movable for withdrawal to an operative position simultaneously with the light dispersing element for placing a sensitized Web supplied therein upon subject matter to be copied.

7 A copying device comprising a holder; a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holder; a plurality of sensitized web retainers slidably mounted Within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element, said retainers being independently movable for withdrawal to an operative position simultaneously with the light dispersing element for placing a sensitized web supplied therein upon subject matter to be copied; and means for limiting the outward movement of said retainers and light dispersing element to normally prevent complete removal thereof from the holder when withdrawn to the operative position for copying purposes.

8. A copying device comprising a holder; a light dispersing element slidably mounted within the holde and adapted for outward movement therefrom to an operative position; a plurality of retainers slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element, said retainers being each arranged to receive and removably engage a sensitized web and adapted for independent outward movement to the operative position simultaneously with the light dispersing element; and means arranged to normally retain said light dispersing element and said retainers within the container and to exclude light therefrom.

9. A copying device eomprisin a holder; a light dispersing element slidabfy mounted within the holder and adapted for outward movement therefrom to an operative position; a plurality of retainers slidably mounted within the holder adjacent the light dispersing element; said retainers being each adapted to receive and removabl-y engage a sensitized web and adapted for independent outward movement simultaneously with the light dispersing element to the operative position; shoulders formed upon the inner ends of the light dispersing element and the retainers; and means mounted upon the holder to normally engage said shoulders and prevent further outward movement when the light dispersing element and the retainers have been moved to the operative position.

In witness where I hereunto set my signature.

FAXON DEAN ATHERTON, JR. 

